New Perimeter conducts sixth training for women lawyers in Nepal

New Perimeter, DLA Piper's nonprofit affiliate that provides long-term pro bono legal assistance in under-served regions around the world, conducted its sixth training for female lawyers in Nepal. New Perimeter once again teamed with Canadian NGO Women Lawyers Joining Hands (WLJH) and the Nepal Bar Association (NBA) as a part of an initiative to provide mentorship and continuing legal education to female Nepali lawyers.

The training, held virtually over the course of several weeks in November and December 2021, was led by a team of DLA Piper lawyers from the US, Canadian lawyers volunteering with WLJH, and Nepali lawyers from the Nepal Bar Association, some of whom were participants in previous iterations of the training. The program included sessions on personal branding and professional development, negotiations, business and human rights, and advocacy, and was delivered to approximately 15 women lawyers who participated in New Perimeter’s 2019 in-person training in Kathmandu, Nepal.

“While we look forward to a time when in-person teaching will be possible, it was a privilege to reconnect with past participants of the program and offer content that will enhance the practical skills of Nepali women lawyers who are practicing law in remote and hybrid settings,” said Lisa Dewey, director of New Perimeter. “As one of the goals of the program is to create and sustain a network of women lawyers who can learn from, send business to, and support each other, it was particularly exciting and fun to create a virtual space where women could come together and be with each other over several weeks.”

The training is part of a larger initiative developed by the Nepal Bar Association and WLJH to provide female lawyers in Nepal with mentorship and ongoing training to deepen their networks and skills, and provide opportunities for advancement, particularly in the corporate field, on the bench and in other prominent roles.

“While virtual training will never equal the experience and benefits of in-person training, the ability to share and learn together online expanded the possibilities of how we can support the ongoing professional development of women lawyers in Nepal,” said Sheri Meyerhoffer of WLJH.

Saroj K Ghimire, NBA Coordinator and National Trainer, said: “It was my pleasure to coordinate this training for the sixth time on behalf of Nepal Bar Association in partnership with DLA Piper and WLJH. Though it was not possible to conduct the training in-person, the training conducted virtually was effective, interactive and participatory. Through the use of simultaneous translation, breakout rooms and other technology, we were able to cover multiple areas of the law, including negotiations, business and human rights, and advocacy. The training encouraged women lawyers to concentrate on professional development, confidence building and expanding their networks within the legal community. The NBA looks forward to continued collaboration in the future.”

The DLA Piper team that conducted the training included partners Kristin Franceschi(Baltimore) and Andrew Valentine (Silicon Valley); of counsel Vanessa Adriance (Los Angeles), Ileana Blanco (Houston), Leeanne Mancari (Los Angeles) and Nicole Zayac (San Francisco); and associate Roshan Bhattarai (Washington DC). Pro bono counsel Suzanna Brickman (Washington, DC) managed and participated in the training.